The Queen’s Pride: A Story of Compassion and Wisdom

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was a wise advisor to a king. One day, the king noticed a beautiful woman selling jujube fruit outside the palace gates, and he immediately fell in love with her. He made her his chief queen, elevating her from her humble position as a fruit seller to the highest rank in the kingdom.

However, after some time, the king was eating jujubes from a golden dish, and the queen, pretending ignorance, asked him what fruit he was eating. The king, feeling insulted by her haughty and dismissive display, became enraged. He decided to divorce her and send her back to her family’s fruit business.

The Bodhisatta, understanding the situation, spoke to the king, advising him not to be angry. He explained that it was common for women raised from humble backgrounds to high positions to display such pride and arrogance. This was a result of their sudden change in social status, not an inherent flaw in their character.

The king, taking the Bodhisatta’s counsel to heart, forgave the queen. She humbled herself and never behaved arrogantly again.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

In a later life, the same king and queen were reborn as King Pasenadi and Queen Mallika. King Pasenadi was a devout supporter of the Buddha, and his queen, Mallika, was known for her wisdom. However, one day the king became angry with Queen Mallika. He was so upset that he completely ignored her, and she was left feeling hurt and abandoned.

The Buddha, seeing this, decided to intervene. He went to the palace to collect alms and noticed that the king was serving food without offering it to the queen. When the king explained that he was upset with the queen for becoming prideful, the Buddha gently reminded him that by raising her to the status of queen, he had indirectly caused her pride. The Buddha pointed out that it was wrong for the king to abandon his wife because of the pride that he himself had helped foster.

The king, realizing the truth in the Buddha’s words, accepted the advice and reconciled with Queen Mallika. From that day forward, the royal couple lived in harmony.

Moral: Pride can arise from sudden changes in status or power, and it is important to understand the causes behind such behavior rather than reacting harshly. Compassion and wisdom can help resolve conflicts, and both parties share responsibility in maintaining a harmonious relationship.